Pad manufacture



July 27, 1943. N LLAR 2,325,265

PAD MANUFACTURE Filed May 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. JOHN R.MILLAR vATTORNEYS July 27, 1943. J, R, MILLAR PAD MANUFACTURE Filed May 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEITOR.

JOHN RmLLAR I 'fi/A ATTORNEYS July 27, 1943.

J. R. MILLAR 2,325,265

PAD MANUFACTURE Filed May 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOHN R..MILLAR A TTORN E Y5 ly 1943- J. R. MILLAR PAD MANUFACTURE Filed May 29. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mam llllllllllukl:

INVENTOR.

JOHN R.MILLAR July 27, 1943. R, MiLLAg 2,325,265

PAD MANUFACTURE Filed May 29. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v uvwszvrok. 'JOHN'R.MILLAR1 Wfi RNE ATTOV v facture of these articles.

Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED PMSMANUFACT v oosen-2 min 'Rno, Nev., assignor to National I ipoi atiomof Delaware Appiiatiezi 29,

The. present invention relates to pad 'ture and more particularly to the complete apparatus and. methanol e 'aannousmanu- In the manufacture of upholstered semiarid more particularly upholstered. seats for a'iitomotive vehicles,' it has' in the past been' the practice to provide a pad- 0f fibrous Ina't'erial I such for eiiample as cotton, inter ediat e a spring unit and. a cover'ii ig Io f -upholste I-hate I rial. The upholstery material, which may be broadcloth, mohair, or thelike; ma itself be plied to the padding material previously referred to merely as an overlying layer of fabric.

i It has in the past been conventional ira'ctice to cut a pad. of fibrous material; such rarer-smple as cotton, to the predetermined shape and to interp'ose the same between the spring'iuhit aiid the upholstery material. It has a so bee the practice in the past to irovidea soca lle d uni-t and the upholstery inaterialflThis pad syj comprises a lowermost base termed to pro: a recess adapted to receive an'unpe'r portion of the spring unit, and an overlying layer of loosely aggregated fibrous material,

such as cotton. In order to retain the parts in their assembled relation and 'to render them suitable for comparatively rough handling, there is provided a fabricjsuch for example as-tobac'co cloth or sheeting, which overlies the -15add ing material and'is secured 'at'its edges to the base.

In some instances it has'been proposed to p'ro- 'vide a spray coating or later: for the? tobacco cloth, and preferab-lylthis tobacco cloth Cfsheelting has" its edges folded into the recess 'in'the base and adhered therein. According to one embodiment of the-pad-as previously suggested, the base is formed. of a coarse fibrous lnat eri'aL'suchfor example as sisal or jute. For this purpose sisal is preferred/since it appears to give substantially-better results, although in its broadest aspects, any equivalent material may be employed. It has a1s'0 been sliggested to coat bfpibvide a relatively shallow impregnation of the fibrous base with a I suitable adhesive material, s'uchfor examine as}. latex.

1939', Serial No; 276,432

The base may; "after; "this Itfeatmht;

IiTeS/Sed throughout itisi'li'face A w relatively hard cdatin'g' which of assisting the' ldis -1T0 ta" andvvhicl'i alsoifir vide a' I ce'fcoatingtvhich tends "to prevent dlSll'l egla't'ionfof-the ba the 1 i 'efilllltajmt downward slftifig Of detached its rorfri d shape L f This had may e employed asfaai of be adhere ed be-sew omelplaeeq'over the for rang ng? and assembling:

save abn'aratus'f'oibon bilmgtheeeposit orifibro'us mater-mien a""c' veyorin a'fn'ianne buildfiip'the"tapered'b other object"ofjmyihvehtion. v "A further Qh'jectb'f'myirii ti' an assembly 'iineeha'r to rent-1on1 o stations I more efficient th'forinatlon and assembl army i; 'iinprevedfiaaag V Other'fobJe'cts fthe'invention as "the desenpt nj'firoeeeds, and h conjunction 'With'thef sec-5min g wherein Figure 1 is a ie vi'e'w s owing th ayeutb'r the 'a'sse'inbly'lihe 'an'd'the associated mechanism s own in Figur ;1; I

55 the 'padffo'r nmg station:

egsimp e eattohipawpfrev 6 1y described. apparatu'siwhieh" I f fi'n'd best 7 Figure 3 'is 'a njel evat ionI f Figure 4 is an end view of the station shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail showing the forming operation on the pad;

Figure 6 is a section of a pad made according to the present invention;

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views indicating thexfeed strokes of the fiber depositing apparatus;

Figure 9 is an elevation illustrating the mechanism for depositing fibrous material on the conveyor;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged elevation showing'the control means for the fiber depositing mechanism;

shown in Figure 11; and

Figures 1 3 and 14 are fragmentary detailsthe fiberfdepositing mechanism. a

The pad which is the product of the method [and apparatus herein described is illustrated in illustrating som'ewhatmodified control means for .Figure 6. In this figurefthe 'pad l is shown in vertical section and in inverted position. It comprises generally abase'member 2 preferably provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 3,

an intermediatepad of loose fibrous material, such for'example as cotton 4, and an overlying plyiof sheeting or tobacco cloth 5. The base 2 and the pad 4 are formed toprovide flanges 6, "which in turn define a recess adapted to receive the upper'porti'on of, the conventional spring unit provided in automobile" upholstery. If desired, a ply of fabric 1 such for example asburlap, may be provided," which'is adapted to underlie the lower surface of thebase 2 when the pad is assembled in the vehicle. {This ply of burlapis optional, and may, if desired, be omitted. Thef treating, devices, suchfor example as Garnetts,

are illustrated at [0, each arranged to deposit a ,thin, continuous filmof cotton on a moving conveyor ll.; As willj'bewellunderstood, these Gar ,netts"are of the ,type provided with depositing means, movable transversely of the conveyor ll, so that the batt is built up of a plurality of overlapping webs which are arranged, in a zigzag formationlongitudinally ofthe conveyor.

" ,Theapparatus which controls the 'Garnetts in order to build up tapered batts will be subsequently described in detail. At present it is sufficientto observethat the cotton isv built up in 'abatt indicatedat l2,"which passes under a suitable compression roller [3 intermediate the Gar.- ne tts and asecond compression roll Mfafter it emergesfrom the last Garnett. v This web is made somewhat wider than the ,desired width of the final productfand itis trimmed topredetermined width by a trimmer knife arrangement indicated at l5. The trimmed batt is deposited on a movingcon veyor H3, .at which time it is cut into a plurality of individual cushions. Preferably this trimming operation is performed by placing templates, over the batt and following the edge of the template by means of a'suitable cutting device.

As previously indicated, itis desired to associate the cotton batt with.a base of acoarse fibrous material, such for example as sisal. In Figures 1 and 2 I have indicatedthis fibrous material as supplied in theform of rolls I! placed on the conveyor H, with the result that the cot- ,ton, as it is built up into a tapered batt, is

formed directly on the coarse fibrous material Figure 12 is an end view ofthehrechanism c It maybe noted here that, if desired, a second roll of fabric l8, such for example as burlap, may also be. provided on the conveyor H in such relationship that it will underlie the coarse fibrous material IT.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the padding material is cut topredetermined shape on the. conveyor IS, the pad of coarse fibrous material and, the underlying sheet of burlap, if such is provided, is also simultane- It'shouldbe emphasized at this time that the cotton which is deposited by the Garnett forms an extremely frail and fragile batt. It is desirable to avoid direct handling of this-batt as much as possible. For this reason, while the cotton still is in the uppermost position, as indicated in Figure 1, on the conveyor It, a precut fabric. such as tobacco cloth or sheeting, or the like, is

"removed from a support}! and is positioned over the assembled pad I9. This fabric, which is indicated at 22, has an outline corresponding generally in shape to the outline of the assembled pad, but is somewhat larger so that its edges project for a purpose which will subsequently appear.

At this time the fragile cotton padding material is received between .a relatively strong ply ofv coarse fibrous material and an uppermost covering of a fabric. Thisassembly may now be grasped and inverted on to the .conveyor 23. In grasping theassembly for transferfrom the conveyor I6 to the conveyor 23," the operator contacts directly the lowermost pad of coarse fibrous material (or the burlap ply where provided), and the uppermost ply of the light. fabric. During inversion of the assembly therefore, the fragile cotton pad is retained in place between the two outer plies referred to. s

It will therefore be apparent-that the assem-- bly, as positioned on the conveyor 23, comprises the following: A lowermost ply of precut fabric or sheeting, next the precut cotton padding material, next' the coarse fibrous material, and

finally the burlap, where such is provided. I

to add'a precut ply of burlap atthis point, b-

escapes a e cy-a1 a sp y ng ne a ion whic sav rpnrp d a r a iv rfi afl n c im. H m

pr a- This providesfor, a ,if'irm adhesive, bond between: the

burlap and the coarse fibro mat z wh ch forms the baseof the assembled pad-f T It may-be bjservedthatthis burlap maybe provided with an adhesive bond to the base by other means, such for example as spra ying the upp ll Stflflace 'of the burlap before it passes underneath the l i b us m eri l n t q n i This spraying operationalso provides 'a'coat s 1 et l th a' he p ft upwa d exposed, outwardly extending edgesof the sheeting 22 for a purpose whichwill presentlyappear. This spraying operation may conveniently take place directly on the c0nveyor-23 but preferably I provide a spray, b 0l31lj25' in, which spraying takes place. After the articles :24 have been sprayed in the booth fijthey are adyan cedfby the conveyor 23- through a drying chamber 26,

which may; if desired, have a connection' i l' for heated air, or the like; It is desired to only'partially dry the adhesive in order to render more effective the subsequentoperations.-- The assembly 24 as it emerges fromthedrying chamber-#6 is next transferredto a buck or press, indicated generally 313""21, and subsequently described in detail, Forthe presen'tfitissuflicient t-o note that the buck 21 comprises a female mold over which the assembly 24 is positioned,- with-the sheeting -22 lowermost; A pressureplate is next brought down, forming the assembly in the mold to provideupWairdly extending flanges over which the-extending edges of thesheeting 22 are folded and adhered inside the flanges, thusoompleting the article. 1'

Referring now particularly to Figures H014, I-illustrate the apparatus for building up a contihuoustapered-batt. H I As previously'stated,- this batt is built up on themoving conveyor ll hymeansofa'transversely movable depositing element, which deposits a zigaag film of-fibrous materialonthe conveyor. In order to buildup thetaperedbatt, it is necessary only to control the stroke oi this reciprocating depositingmember. Y As sh'own in Figure 7, a batt which is tapered at-one side only may be produced by causing'the reciprocating depositing {member to follow the lines indicated in this figure. Thus,-forexample; if the deposit isstarted-at'the point a-and is continued-across thefull' width-of the ,battto the. point I)- and is then reversedto the point e, a batt having substantially double thickness atone side will be produced,- In like manner, referring to Fi re 8, t

the batt maybe formed having any desired contour; Thus, for example, the depositing member may start fromthe point d andcontinue completely across the conveyor to the point e.'- From this point it may reverse itself to the point f at the -firstside of the conveyor. -It may then reverse-and continue to a point g, which is spaced inwardly from the point -e.-" Reversal this time may-result in a translation to the point "h; at which point reversal again-occurs, followed by translation-to the point i. -Fromthepoint i translation to the point 70 completes a cycle. It will be apparent that by means of this cycle a pad may be bui1t-up-whichis tapered at both edges. 1

c 7 Referring now particularly to Figures, 9 ,and Q; c llllstrateethe .tconveyor Ll I carried by rollers 3Q, supported;inzsuitable frame membersi3 in i'I he cotton depositing means takesnthe form of; a

carriage '32, provided with Whels -=33 adapted "to roll on atrackwayformed by suitable angle-l members 34 carried-bythe frame'el. Cotton from the Garnetts I0 is remove'd -froma -ro1l" '35 -by a suitable doffer mechanism M-a-nd advances upwardly by means of a-conveyor =31; from which it is deposited-,on a second conveyor 38: At this-point the continuous film of cotton passes downwardly between opposed conveyors "39- and 'Z-4il, which eventually supply this-filmof cotton from --betweenrollers Al. It will be appreciated -that-the cotton, which I have indicated in Figure 9 as 42,

longitudinally of-the conveyor H Suitable automatic mechanism is provided for controlling reciprocation -of the carraige-r3'2. Preferably this'mechanism takes :t-he form ofa is of substantial widthin a direction measured chain connected at its'ends'asindicated at 44 to the carriage 32. An idle sprocket 45 is pro vided over which the chaih'runs, and-fa second driving sprocket" 46 i is p'rovi'de"cl- --for1 -driving the shaft whichqalso carriesa gear 41 -mes-hing Witha second gear- 18. Gear-48 is driven by means of a-chain -49 from a sprocket- 551; The-chain us -in turn isd-riven from a sprock'et iil ,=;whicl1 =inturn is driven from a reversingpulley arrangement indicated generall-yat 52: I a i In order to reversethe 'sproclzet' 5i and so me verse travel of the carriage 32, a drivin'g' pulley 53 is provided having a crossed -belt fe l-and a straight belt 55 adapted to connectiwith-suitable fixed and loose pulleysonthe shaft-:66; The al rangement is suchtha't-with the parts-as' 'shown crossed belt 54, is driving a loose' -pulley "lil while the straight belt "55 is: driving -a-pulley 5B keyed or otherwise connected to theshait-'56.-

In order -to 5 reverse rotation of the sprocket 5 l a shifter fork-601sprovided; having-depend ing fingers adapted: to engage? the; belts and me' adjustable stops may. be provided adjacent both .ends of each of the rodsor if desired, the conligation 61-, may (reverse the movement'of' the ca-I riage: :32 as. ieimoves to the rightyas seeni1r Fi'gure .11.: -.Means are provided on the carriage iiZ for engaging the adjustable stops 69 rand J0=and lotheri stops, if desired, forv con'trolling the point lot reversal of the-carriage -32. These-meansare illustrated in detail in Figures ll and m ta-which reference is now hadi g :Secu-redto the carriage 32uis; a tending :bracket 15;;to1whichispivoted an actuator; platezlfi. The plate: i8 is provided with recesses 11' and 18 andzdsi zrockableiahout ipivot .pin- 19, so that the recesses 11- and" 0' alternately receive rods 64. and-63. -As=iwi-ll' 'beaevidenm as the. ,1 carriage-V 32 1s -moved in onedirection; the

.point of reversal -will bedetermined byatheuadjustmentof the stops lilaor' fi'ilg-depending upon with which rod theactuator% l B iisaengaged.

The shaft 19- whiehcarries'thei actuator-1614s provided; with,.- a.;spring-i Mumhicm-urgesithe acan upwardly: ex- 1,

tuator in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in- Figure 12. At the opposite enact the actuator I6 from the recesses 11 and-18is provided a roller 8I whichis adapted to engage the periphery of a cam wheel 82. The-caznwhee1 82 is intermittently rotated responsive to trans rlation of the carriage 32, and in each position will determine which of'the two rods 64 and 68 willbe engaged by'the actuator. v I

1 The mechanism which provides for predeter,

rnined intermittent rotationof the cam wheel The cam. plate 82 has, secured thereto a plurality of laterally extending pins83, all concentric with the bearing '94 which supports cam wheel 82 for rotation. In order to control rotation oi'the cam wheel, a washer or friction member 95 is provided; having-recesses 91 for receiving the points of a star shaped resilient washer.

88. The washer ,98 is retained against rotation relative to the stud bolt 99, and accordingly retains the friction member. 95 against rotation.

Friction member 95 has extended. bearing with L the cam wheel 82 and permits its rotation only when directly actuated by the control ,means now tObe described. I I

The pins 93 are arranged so that only-the'uppermost and lowermost of the series is adapted to'contact withthe stops 86 and 81, respectively.

Referring nowto Figure 11, and assuming that the carriage '32 is moving to theleft 'inthis figure, it will be noted that theuppermost pin 93a will contact ,the stop 86, which ,in turn is held against rotation by the stop pin 89. At the same time the lowermost pin 93b will contact the stop 81, but this stop is not held against rotation and will accordingly be rotated away from its stop pin 9I. The lowermost stop 81 is'provided with a weighted projection IOII which will return the stop to position against the stop pin 9| after the carriage 32 has passed. Engagement between the uppermostpin 83a. and thestop 86 willaccordingly result in a clockwise rotation of the vcam plate 82. This rotation will force the. roller 8| of the actuator 16 out of the recess'IULin which it is then resiliently retained b 'thespring in elongated slots.

ment as in that just described, each of the rods may be providediwith a pair of adjustable. stops,

a'nd'that the point of reversal will be determined by the position of the actuator I 08, which in turn ,will be'determinedf by a cam wheel similar in all respects to that shown at '82, with the excause the armsof actuator I88 to embrace the lower rod, th lower two rods, or all three rods. -It,is therefore necessary to employ stops on the upper rod for reversallnear the center of the stroke, and stops on the lower rod for reversal at the end of stroke. I I

. Asomewhat diflerent embodiment of the present invention involves substitution of a single arcuately curved plate I I for the plurality of rods.

Plate I I 5 may beprovided with stops in the form of bolts II6 longitudinally adjustable therealong It will be appreciated that an actuator, such as shown at I08 in Figure '13, will cooperate satisfactorily withfthe devic shown in Figure 14, thecam wheel beingprovided in this instance with recessesformed on four .difierent diameters.

, Referring now particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, I have illustrated the buck or press, 21.y This takesth form of a table or stand I20 which carries a recessed form or mo1d-I2I.. One or more pins I22 are positioned about the periphery of recess I23 of the mold in order to serve as an aid in positioningthe assembly 24-re1ative thereto;

sition.

80. The arrangement ofparts issuchthat the t rotation is substantially sufli'cient to bring the next succeeding recess I0! into registry with the roller 8|, and the roller 8| thereupon resiliently drops into the next recess I III. As "will. be apparent from Figurel2, the '-resulting'movement of the actuator 16 about its'pivot will cause the actuator to successively engage the rods 84 and88 in a predetermined cycle. I c

In order to form the tapered vbatt with any desired configuration, it is necessary onlylto adjust the stops 69 and 10, or change thecam wheel 11' it is desired to alter the weight of the center-of the pad relative to the sides.

In some instances it maybe desirable to provide for more flexibility of control, in which case a plurality of rods, such for example as the three indicated at H15, I06, I81 may b provided. In this case, instead of-providing an actuator I88 with two oppositely disposed "recesses, it'may be provldedwith'a single arcuate slot I09. .It will .be understood,= .of course; that in this. embodif 'vided, and are connected standing A suitable framework, illustrated as comprising an upright I24, and anoverhead beam I25 is provided for supporting a pressure-plate I26 directly over the mold I2I. This pressure plate may conveniently takethe former-a flat metal plate of a size somewhat smaller than the recess I23, all aswell illustrated in Figure 5 in which the pressure plate I28 is shown in lowermost po- Suitable pressure means, which may take the form of an air cylinder I21, or thelike, are probetween the beam I25 and the pressure plate I26. When thepressure .is supplied to the cylinder I21, pressure plate I28 is moved downwardlyinto the mold, I 2|, thus forming the projecting edges of the assembly upwardly into a fiangeformation. Suitable guides --indicatedgenerally: at I 28 insure accurateregistry between the pressure-plate and the-mold.

As, previously stated and as indicated in Figure l; the fiber base material and the fiber padding material arepreferably cut with notched corners, as indicated at 2L- 'These'notchesfacilitate the formation of the edges ofthe assembly into upflanges, as indicated at I30 in Figure 5. Also, as previously described, the exposed edges of the sheeting 22, aswell as theupper edgesof the base material, have been coated'with an adhesive.- At this time 'an operator folds thesheeting 22 over the projecting flange edges I30 and adhesively secures them inside the flanges, as indicatedat the right in Figure 5. The fabric serves the dual function of retaining the loose,

employing the herein described apparatus, I make it possibleto; produce scribedeificiently and degree of uniformity.

pads of the character de- The uniformity of the rapidly and' with 'a "high pads is one of the-most important characteristics, since it is this characteristic which does asmuchasanything else to accelerate final assembly, of

the vehicle seat constructions Accordingmto present conventional practices in which a loose padofcotton is placed over the spring-, it is ordinarily necessary for the upholsterer-to pluck portions of cotton'here and. there in order to obtain materialover the pad.

The present method and :apparatus in its broader aspects is capable of producing pads having the general characteristics reierred-to, -but differing in numerous details. It has previously; been indicated that the lower ply-'ofburlap may or may not-be employed-as desired -It willalso be evident, of course, that-the-lower ply of-relatively coarse fibrous=-,-material which forms the base" member need notbe apertured, althoughit has been found that the apertures add substan tially ato its operating characteristicsr -In; likemannen if desired,'=adhesive may be supplied to the-cotton while it is'on the conveyor l6, previous; to superposing oi the fabric 22-. Other details will'suggestgthemselves ito those familiar with the art.":- y I While-lhave-illustrated and described only a few: specific embodimentsof my invention, it will be apparent'to 'thoseskilled in the art thatvarious additions:modifications-omissions, combinationsand substitutions 'may' be made which will be within the spirit andscope of my invention as defined by the-appended claims.-

I What'I claim "asmy invention is 1. Apparatus forbuilding up a continuous batt o'i tapered thiclniess which-comprises, a conveyor, means for depositing on said conveyor a thin web of substantial width; with the width ofsaid web extending parallel' to said oonveyorydrive means for}movin'g saiddepositing means transversely of said conveyoni reversing means for 'said drive means, and autom' tic'all-y operable cyclical: presettin'g means ior said reversing 'means foreffec'tin-g reversal ofsaid depositing means at "dif-' fe'reiit points, said presetting means comprising a pluralit 'of 'mova'ble abut'rrients separately ope e'rabieupon-movenientof said depositing means in one direction and'eifective upon *mov'ement to actuate said r'e'versin'g means, 1 "and actuator meansmovabie with 'said depositing means for engagingandinovingoiieof said abutments; and automatic control r'iieans for'said actuator for causing are selectively engage" saidiabutmentsin a predetermined sequence:'

Apparatus for building up a' continuous; transversely taperedbatt comprising a longitudina-lly movable coiiveyor; a carriage" includinga -"feeding means "movable transversely "of said conveyor; driveriiee s' forsaid carriage; revers ing means for said drive means including abut: merit means movabiebetween tw'o positioi'is to effect reversal of said drive mearfsy-abutni'ent means movable withfsaid carriage to: engage said first'iabutment means), one, of; said abutm nt means comprising" a plurality of abutment p of said abiitrnentfrneans being shiftabl' so, as to fng'age an or another of "said abutmeh pbmans, and programming means'fop erable iairsso'nse to may fntfo f said carriage remainingsaid dtrierabi tnientn eansto;engage tions; the other a ss said abutment portions in a predetermined seuen'ce;

3, 'In apparatus 'adapted'tobuildup a ban of fibrous material on'a, moving conveyor by trans-' verse reciprocatoryf movement of a fiber deposit'-. ing carriage, programming means for said car-j ria'ge comprising a reversing bar shiftable to reverse said carriage, a pluralityfoi, abutmentsf fixed relative to said-bar,- an actuator movable, with said carriage and adjustable .to, engage any' one of said abutments,' and means actuated by movement ofsaid carriage for adjusting said actuator-to engage said 'abutments 'in'a predeter-'- mined'sequence, said last named means comprising rotary cam' means mounted for step-by-step rotation on said'carriage and havingcamming. portions which position said actuator means-and a stop past which said carriage moves engageable with saidcam means .for rotating said carnone step in responseto translation of'said "carriage.

4. In apparatus adapted'tobuild up a batt-V of fibrous material on a moving conveyor by; transverse reciprocatory movement of a fiber depositing'carri'age, programmingmea-ns for said carriage comprising a, reversing bar'shiftable to 4 reverse .sai'dl'carriage, a plurality of abut'ments fixed relative to said bar, an actuator movable with saidcarriage and'adjustableto. engage any one'of said'abutments; saidabutinents being arr'ang'edinan arcuate relation, said actuator com-; prising a pivotedmember having an 'arcuate slot corresponding to the .arcuate arrangement of said 'abutrnents, and means actuated by move? ment of said carriage forpivoting, said actuator, to' engage said abutments in a. predetermined sequence.

of nonuniform thickness which. comprises a con-- veyo'r'; depositing means movable transversely of said conveyor adapted to deposit a thin web-oi substantial. Width oni saidconveyor. in overlap-- ping folds, a reversible drive for. saidcarriage, reversing-mechanism for said drive-lcomp'rising shitting means movable transversely of said con veyorf, said reversingmechanism alsoeimluding relatively adjustable abutments carried by said depositing means and said: shifting means, lone of's id-fmeans having aplurality of said fabut n s .separate1yengageable by the abutment carried by said o-thermeans on different strokes of said depositing means inth'e same direction,

aii'tl aflprogra'mming device actuated-by travel of 'sai'ddepositing-means toefiect. adjustment of theabutrnent carried by said otherQmeans to engage -diiierent ones of said plurality of abut merits "upon successive -strokes of said depositing means to'efiect reversalof saiddepositing means ponisuccessive strokesin the same direction at different points; v f

f 16, Apparatus for building up acontinuous ,batt of tap ered,"thickness, comprising :a' conveyor, meansror depositing on said conveyor aIthi'n web of substantial Width dri ve means for moving' said depositing means transverselyloisaid conveyer reversing means for saiddrive means, and. automatically operable cyclical Lpresetting meansfor said reversing meansfor-efiecting reversal of saiddepositing means, said presetting ine'ans'comprising a plurality of movable abutg mentjsiseparatfly operable during movement of tlie'fiepositing means-in one directiontofactuate the' reversin g means, and actuator means movable "with, said depositing means and operable during" travel of the latterin the one ,direction aforesaid tofeng'age'ancl moveone l of '5. Apparatus-for buildingup a continuousbatt ment of parts being such that reversal ofthel depositing means may take eifectfat different, points in' the travel of the depositing means ini the one direction by 'engagement of the actuator'means with a separate one of the plurality ofabutments on different strokes of the deposit ing means in the one direction.

7. In apparatus adapted to build up a batt oi fibrous material on amoving conveyor by transverse reciprocatoryrnovement of a fiber depositing carriage, programming means for said carriage comprising connected reversing bars shit-table to reverse said carriage, abutments fixed relative to said bars and separately oper able during movement'of said carriage in one direction to actuate saidb'ars, an actuator movable; with 'said carriage" and operable during travel of the carriage in the one direction aforesaid to engage one of said abutments, and means actuated by movement of said carriage for'ad justing said actuator to engage one of said abutments, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that reversal of the carriage may take effect at different points in'the travel .of the carriage in theone directionby'engagement of the actuator with a separate one of the plurality of abutments on difierent strokes of the carriage in the one direction; I

8. Apparatus for building up a continuous batt conveyor for depositing 'fibrous material on said conveyor, drive'means for said depositing means, reversing means for saiddrive means,and'automatically operable cyclical presetting means for said reversing ineansfor effecting reversalof said depositingmeans, saiclfpresettin'g means including-a plurality of movable abutments separately operable upon movement ofsaid depositingmeans in onedirection and eilective-uponimovement to of. tapered thickness, comprising a conveyor,

means for depositing on said conveyor a thin web of substantial width, drive means for moving said depositing means transversely of said conveyor, reversing means for said drive means, means including a plurality of abutments sepa: rately operable during movement of said de positing means in one direction to actuate the reversing means, and actuator means movable with said depositing means and operable during travel of the latter in the one direction afore' sa id'toengage one of said abutments to efiect reversal of said depositing means, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that reversal of the depositing means may take-effect at different points in, the travel of the depositing means inthe one direction by engagement of the actuator means with a separate one of the plurality of abutments on different strokes of the depositing means in the one direction.

9. In apparatus adapted to build up a batt of actuate said v reversing means, actuator means movable with said depositing means and operable to engage and move one of said abutments, and automatic means for adjusting said actuator'to engage one of said abutments, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that reversal of the depositing means may take effect at'different points in the travel of the depositing means in the one direction by engagement of the actuatormeans with a separate one of the plurality of abutmentson ,different strokes of the depositing means in the one direction. a l1. Apparatus for building upafibrous-batt of predetermined configuration,'comprising a conveyor, means; movable back and forth overthe conveyor for depositing'fibrous material on said conveyor, drive means for said depositing means, reversing means for said drive means; and automatically operable cyclical presetting means for said reversing means for eifecting reversal of said depositing means, said presetting means, comprising a plurality of movableabutments in the path of-saiddepositing r'ne'ans when travelling in ,one direction and'effective upon being moved to'actuate said reversing means,"and actuator means movable with said depositing means and operable during travel of the latter-in'theone direction aforesaid to engage one of said abutments-said actuator means being automatically cyclically op'erated'to engage one of said abutments, the constructionand arrangement of parts being such that reversalof the depositing means may take effect at different'pointsin the travel of the depositing meansin'the one directionvby engagement of the actuator means with a separateone of the plurality of abutmentsondifferent strokes of thedepositing means'inithe one direction.

12. Apparatus for building up a fibrous batt-of predetermined configuration, comprising a conflbrousmaterial on a conveyor by reciprocatory movement of a fiber depositing carriage, programming means for said carriage comprising a reversing member shiftable to reverse said carriage, a plurality of abutments; adjustable relative to said member and separately operable during movement of said carriage in one'jdirection by engagement of the actuatorwith a separate one of the plurality of abutments on different strokes of the carriage in theone direction,

10. Apparatus for building up a fibrous batt of predetermined configuration, comprising a con veyorgmeans movable back and forth over the veyor, means movable back-and forth over the conveyor for depositing'flbrous material on said conveyor, drive means for said depositingv means, reversing means for said drive means, means including a pluralityof abutments separately operable during movement of said depositing means in one direction to actuate the reversing means, and actuator means movable with said depositing means and operable duringtravel of the-latter in the one direction fifOl'BSfiidntQ engage one of said abutments, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that reversal of the depositing means may take effect at different points in the travel of the depositing means in the one direction by engagement of the actuator means with a separate-one of the plurality of abutments on different strokes of the depositing means in the one direction.

:13, Apparatusfor. building upla batt of fibrous material, comprisinga support for said material, means movable backand forth over said support for depositing the material on said support, drive means for the depositing means, and meansfor controlling the action of saiddrive means including a shifter,v clementgfor said drive means, meansincluding a pair of interconnected rods for actuating the shifter element, adjustabl abutments on the rods and separately operable during movement of the depositing means in one direction relative to said support to actuate the rods, actuator means carried by the depositing means and operable when the latter is moving in the one direction aforesaid to engage one of said abutments, and means actuated by movement of the depositing means for causing the actuator means to engage one of said 'abutments as aforesaid, the

' controlling the action of said drive means includ- 20 one direction.

ing a shifter element for said drive means, means including a pair of interconnected members for actuating th shifter element, adjustable abutments on the interconnected members and separately operable during movement of the depositing means in one direction relative to said support to actuate the interconnected members,actuator means carried by the depositing means and operable when the latter is moving in th one direction aforesaid to engage one of said abutments, and cam actuated means for adjusting the actuator means to engage one of said abutments as aforesaid, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that reversal of the depositing Y means may take effect at different points in the travel of the depositing means in the one direction by engagement of the actuator means'witha separate one of the plurality of abutments on different strokes of the depositing means in the J HN R MILLAR; 

